The flurry of criticism about FIFA and its handling of the recent vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts continued with harsh words from one of its most respected executives. German legend Franz Beckenbauer -- an outgoing member of the executive committee -- slammed the way FIFA changed its policy on releasing the results of the two votes.

"The Executive Committee was told that neither we nor the public would get to know the precise voting figures," he told Germany's Bild newspaper. "After each round of voting, we were only told which candidate had been kno
cked out. And then a few hours later, I hear on the radio who had received how many votes. My faith in FIFA is limited."

Beckenbauer blasted the way the seven losers in the two contests have been treated. "I am disappointed with the way FIFA has dealt with the results after the vote," he said. "They have made a disgrace of the seven defeated nations, particularly England and Australia."